Crushing mill



W. COOPER CRUSHING MILL April 21, 1931.

Filed Nov. 27, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR Walliarn- 600,00! BY MW76,

ATTORNEY WITNESSES April 21; 1931. w. COOPER 1,302,197

CRUSHING MILL Filed Nov. 27, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Willlam-Cooper ATTORN EY April 21, 1931.

w. COOPER CRUSHING MILL Filed Nov. 27, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 $5 INVENTORATTORN'EY WITNESSES Patented Apr. 21, 1931 PATENT oFFrc wrLLrAM coornn,or CAGUAS, ron'ro RICO onusnms MILL Application filed November 27, 1928.Serial No.- 322,215.

1 This invention relates to improvements in crushlng nulls, and 1tconslsts ofjtheconstructions, combinations and arrangements,

herein described and claimed.

An object ofthe invention is to provide, what is conveniently termed, afloating j ournal box for each trunnion of the toproll of a crushingmill, upon which journal boxes,

the requisite pressure is imposed by the plungers ofpressure cylindersso that the top roll will be made to yieldinglybear inthe direction ofthe bottom rolls and crush'the material passing between the variousrolls.

Another object of the invention'is to provide each journal box of thecrushing roll of other control that the pressure means may be made topress upon the journal boxes with any desired pressure, thus affording acertain floating action of the crushing roller within a prescribed areaas fullyfdeveloped below.

A further object of the invention is to adapt the so-called floatingjournal box and its plural pressure imposing means to sugar canecrushing mills.

' Other objects and advantages will appear M in the followingspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in whichFigure 1 is an end elevation of a crushing mill illustrating features ofthe improvement, Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of the improvedjournal box,

Figure 3 is a vertical section showing the internal constructionimmediately adjacent to the end of the crushing mill shown in Figure 1,a s

Figure 4: is a detail plan view of oneend of the cap in Figure '3,

' t Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of a portion ofthe housingbase, showing one of the slots which is engaged by one of the lugs inFigure '2 to prevent lateral movement of the journal box,

Figure 6 is a detail'vertical section taken substantially on theline 6-6of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view of a modification in which the upperhalf otthe l.

journal box ismade in two parts, each of which has a ball and socketconnection with the pressure plunger, Figure 8 is a detail sectionalview in which the upper half is made in one part and the ball and socketconnection is replaced by a series of rolls,

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view of one portion of the plunger inFigure 8,

Figure 10 is a detail perspective view of the other portion of saidplunger, 7 j

Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating the area within which the top rollfloats in the operation of the mill. r p l v As has. been generallyindicated already, the invention concerns crushing mills. Although theprinciple will have utility .in crushing mills of various types it has aparticular advantage when embodied in a mill for crushing sugarcane.

An outstanding feature of the invention, and'one that comprisesthe'principle alluded to, is the use of a plurality (usually two) ofpressure means in operative association with each journal box ofthecrushing. roll of a crushing mill. A sugar cane crushing mill is thetype of mill used herein as an example for the exemplificationof theinvention, and

in this mill the pressure of hydraulic means is intended to be imposedupon the journals of the top roll.

Each of the pressure means will be connected with a source'of pressurefluid and provided with such controls that any desired pressures can beimposed upon the journal boxes so that the pressures in one directioncan be made greater or less than inthe other direction, thus bringingabout thatfre- V sult according towhich the top roll will be enabled tofloat within a prescribed area in the I operation of the crushing millrThe top roll is thus enabled to become adapted to varying qualities,consistencies, etc, of the sugar cane. in short,rendering the action ofthe top roll against the bottom rolls far more flexible than is possiblewith anyknown arrangement In a sugar cane crushing mill for which thejournal box is particularly designed, the capability of varyingthepressures will prove to be an advantage as just indicated. It may befound necessary in the operation of the mill to either diminish orincrease the pressures independently. The pressure means of each journalbox are set at angles to each other, the axes of the said meanscoinciding with lines drawn through the centers of the top and bottomrolls.

This arrangement, as presently appears, will permit the top roll toadapt itself to the bottom rolls within a triangular area. This is theprescribed area referred to. The pressure of one set of ressure meansalong one of the lines can be at usted either greater or less than thepressure of the other set of pressure means along the other line. Thusthe initial pressure upon the cane may be greater or less than thesecondary pressure. Or, if desired, the pressures of both sets ofpressure means may be made the same. There is no limit to the amount ofvariation.

All of this Will be readily understood from the drawings to whichreference is now made. Figures 1 and 3 illustrate what is hereingenerally'known as the housing 1. This housing is duplicated at each endof the crushing mill, and in view of such duplication, the followingdescription is confined to one housing only, it being understood thatthere is a similar structure at the other end. The top roll 2 bears uponthe bottom rolls 3, and its purpose is to press out the uice when sugarcane is passed between the rolls.

Conventional structure supports the bottom rolls. The trunnions 1 of thebottom rolls have a suitable support in bearings 5. These bearings arecapable of limited adjustment by screw studs 6 which are mounted inheavy yokes 7 at the sides of the housing. The yokes are held in placeby nuts on the threaded ends of the shafts 8 which extend crosswise ofthe housing.

A recess 9 in the housing base 10 receives the lower half or liner 11 ofa box for the trunnion 12 of the upper roll 2. The upper half of the boxconsists of a cap 13. The liner 11 is merely laid in the recess 9, beingretained therein by the end flanges 14.- which contact with the sides ofthe housing base 10.

An allusion has been made to a floating journal box. This term must beunderstood. The cap 13 is actually the floating element because itfollows the trunnion 12 in the floating movements of the top roll withinthe prescribed area. But the plural pressure means are also included inthe term, and it is the use of the plural pressure means with themovable or floating cap 13 that constitutes the outstanding feature ofthe invention.

As the sugar cane passes through the mill the top roll 2 will naturallyride upwardly and away from the bottom rolls 3, but within thepermissible triangular area. It will rest upon the sugar cane, but willbe pressed downwardly by the pressure means which has a yieldingquality. Any heaviness in the mass of sugar cane will be compensated forby a free yielding of the top roll, while any sparseness in the mass ofsugar cane will be taken up by the pressure of the pressure means.

It is thus that the top roll 2 floats. It is suspended between the massof sugar cane and the pressure means during the operation of thecrushing mill. The liner 11 is intended to remain stationary in therecess 9. The bottom of the trough in the liner is curved at 15 to matchthe curvature of the trunnion 12, whence the sides 16 of the troughdepart at tangents to the trunnion so that the area of contact of thetrunnion is less than 180.

The vertical side walls 17 of the recess 9 provide ample room betweenthe cut-away portions of the liner 11 and the trunnion 12 for'the freeupward motions of the trunnion. Located adjacent to the recess 9(particularly the walls 17) are slots 18 (Figures 1 and 5) to receivelugs 19 projecting from the cap 13. The lugs and slots guide the cap 13in its upward floating motions, and prevent lateral motion of thejournal box. They also prevent axial motion of the cap, that is to say,motion of the cap in the direction of the length of the trunnion 12.Although the cap is free to accomplish the floating motions mentioned,it will be held in its proper place within the housing base 10. I

A vertical lug 20 on top of the cap 13 coacts with the foregoing lugsand slots in the guidance of the cap and to the end that it prevents thecap 13 from revolving in respect to the trunnion. For this purpose, thelug 2O loosely engages a guide slot 21 in the lower part of a cap 22which completes the housing. This cap is firmly held down upon thehousing base 10 by stud bolts 23 and nuts 24.

Further conventional structure resides in the pressure means. Thesepressure means comprise hydraulic cylinders. The pressure means iscapable of operation by any desired pressure fluid. In practice suitablecontrols will be provided so that any degree of pressure may be imposedupon the cap 13 by the various pressure means. The cap 22 per forms, inaddition to the purposes already stated, the important purpose of a partof the pressure means for holding the cap 13 under pressure.

To the latter end. the housing cap 22 is made with two cylinders 25.Although these are incorporated in the cap they will he of anyconventional nature. It must be understood that no restriction isintended on the type of pressure means, but it must also be understoodthat the pressure means must be in plural form, that is to say, it isintended to impose pressures on the cap 13 in u plurality of directions.Notwithstanding the conventionalityof the pressure means, thedescription of'the details of one of the cylinders is as follows,: s

A number of reductions-27, 28, 29 and 30 in the internal diameter of thecylinder gageableby similar lugs on the cover 31 to hold the cover "inthe clamped position against the abutment 32 when given a partial turnin a manner readily understood. No part of the cylinder 25,:exceptingthe rim 26 which bounds the upper opening of the cylinder. appears ontheoutsideof the cap.

The lugs on the coverwillslip through the passages between the lugs 36,and when the cover 31 is given a partial turn by means of the fingerpieces On the cover, thevarious lugs will be brought into engagement andwill hold the cover against the abutment. The latter has a flange thatrests upon the upper edge ofthe sleeve 33 and that flange is situated inthe chamber 27. The pressure of the cover extends to the sleeve andholds the latter firmly within the chamber'28. The

differences in the diameters of'the chambers 29 and 30 provide ashoulder 37 with which the head. 34of the plunger 35 is engageable tolimit the outward movement of the plunger.

' The head is largely adapted to ride upon the sleeve 33, which inpractice, may he made of brass. I

Clipped leathers 38 and 39. respectively next to the abutment 32 and thehead 34 0f the plunger, directly receive the force of fluid underpressure introduced into the chamber inside of the sleeve 33 through abore '40 (Fig. 6). This bore will be connected with a suitable source offluid under pressure. The pressure fluid between the cupped leathers 38and 39 provides a cushion which will vary in resilience accordingly asthe pressure of the fluid varies. The function of the cushion is topermit a yielding of the'plunger 35 when the journal cap 13 floatsupwardly. The reservoir of the pressure fluid is not shown, nor are theconnections thereof with the hydraulic cylinders and the means forcontrolling it. Any known arrangement will serve the purpose, the onlyrequirement. being the fluid under a given pressure, with an arrangementbv whic either full pressure may be imposed upon the plungers 35 orvariations of the full pressures. It may be de-' sirable to sometimesmake the fluid cushion more rigid than at other times.

A spherical ended. compression member 41 seats between the plunger 35and the journal cap 13. The latter has a shallow recess 42 to receivethe lower end of the member 41. A tapering or enlarged bore 43, in theouter ing movements of the top roll 2." For example, the blanket ofcrushed cane will vary in thickness between top and front, and betweenthe top and back bottom rolls in which case the bores 43 will compensatefor the necessary adaptations of the'm'embers 41.

' It is through the member 41 that the presif sure is imposed upon thecap 13. The member 41 may be defined asa link. 7 The plunger 35 acts asa cross head and guide for the link.

Inpractice, the cap 13 may be cooled by cir-f culating water which willbe conducted .to p and from the openings 45 in any suitable manner. Thecap may be brass lined at 46, the flanged ends 47 of the liner (Figs.land 2) being secured to the cap as at 48. ,This, too, is conventionalstructure.

Figure 7 discloses a modification which concerns the compression member,thatis to say, the link element between the plunger 35 and the journalbox cap. Those parts'in both this modification and the one presently tobe: described, which arethe same as in the 7 main form of the invention,bear correspond, ing reference numerals The recess :44 in the plunger 35is now formed directly in theouter end, the exposed rim of which end isbeveled as at 46. Thecap is made in two parts, the

a convexly formed protuberance 48 which e'n-i gages the recess 44. Thearrangement forms a ball and socket joint. or connection. The

lugs 19 and cooperating guides 18 serve to 'tions 50 and 51, this beingvnecessary to enable the assembly thereof in the cylinder 25. The portion51 has a square or other non-circular head 52 which bears upon the rolls49. One ofthe flat sides of. the head 52 will bear against acorresponding portion of the hous-. ing base 10 and thus prevent theplunger portion 51 from revolving. The lug 19 and cooperating slotguides the cap vertically.

The operation is readily understood. Reference is made to Figures 3 and11. The hydraulic or other pressure cylinders 25 are substantially'inline with the centers of the top and bottom rolls 2 and 3. Lines 53 and54 drawn through the centers of the rolls as illustrated will passthrough the axes of the pressure means. A line 53 drawn through thecenters of the bottom rolls 3 indicates a common plane in which theserolls are located.

The pressures of the pressure means, im-

parted through the plungers 35 and links 41 parts shown being designated47. Eachhas V V upon the cap 13, are substantially in the directions ofthe lines 53, 54. They produce independent actions of the top rollagainst either of the bottom rolls. The pressures are atangles to eachother.

By a proper manipulation of the pressure controls (not shown) thepressure along the line 53 may be made greater than along the line 54.The top roll 2 would thus hear more heavily against the left bottom roll3 than against the right bottom roll. Assuming the sugar cane to beintroduced at the right, the initial pressure upon the sugar cane wouldbe less than the secondary pressure. If the operation of the millrequires a reversal of these arrangements, or any other change in theratios of pressure, the controls are readily manipulated to bring aboutthe intended result.

In practice the location of the pressure means is not necessarilyconfined to the lines 53, 54. The pressure means may be offset so as todepart from these radial lines. They may be placed on other lines 55(Fig. 11) which are radial to the top roll 2. A more acute trianglewould thus be formed, and the pressures of the pressure means would bemore directly downward, or to one side of the bottom rolls.

Now as to the floating movements of the top roll 2. The center of thetop roll is indicated 56 in Figure 11. This is regarded the counterpartof the center 56 in Figure 3. Assume a mass of sugar cane to beintroduced between the various rolls. The top roll, by virtue of itscushioned mounting, will rise upwardly. The first act will be to shiftits center to the point 57 (Fig. 11). As the sugar cane passes out ofthe mill the center of the top roll will tend to shift toward the point58. But inasmuch as the passing through of cane is continuous, the toproll will so adapt itself that its center will shift about in theprescribed triangle defined by the points 56, 57 and 58. The exactlocation of the center within this triangle will be determined by thevolume of the sugar cane. A heavy volume at the right of the mill willshift the center upwardly toward the left. A relatively heavy volume atthe left of the mill will tend to shift the center upwardly toward theright. Substantially equal volumes will set the center elsewhere. Inother words, the top roll will float freely upon the mass of cane, ofcourse always being borne down by the pressure of the pressure means.

It is of utmost importance that each float ing journal box shall includetwo pressure means. It is only by the action of a plurality of pressuremeans against the cap 13 of each journal box that the top roll 2 isenabled to float within the prescribed area. The pressures of thepressure means in diverse directions confine the top roll within saidarea when the top roll is supported by a blanket than those intersectingthe centers of the top a and bottom rolls the effort with which the topis borne down upon the bottom rolls will be increased.

As the mass of sugar cane passes between the rolls 2 and 3, the top roll2 will rise upwardly by virtue of its cushioned mounting, beingrestrained from cndwise motion by the guiding function of the slots 18and lugs 19. These elements will prevent the journal cap 13 fromrevolving with the trunnion 12 of the top roll. The connections of thelugs 19 and 20 are.loose. These lugs are necessary to guide the journal.cap, but the connections must be and are loose enough to permit floatingmovements of the top roll within the prescribed area mentioned before.

lVhile the construction and arrangement of the improved crushing mill isthat of a generally preferred form, obviously modifications and changesmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the claims.

I claim 1. A journal box for the roll of a crushing mill comprising ajournal cap, and a plurality of fluid pressure means located in radialpositions in. respect to the roll and including plungers adapted toimpose pressures upon the cap along lines intersecting the axis of theroll.

2. A ournal box for the roll of a crushing mill comprising a ournal cap,a plurality of fluid pressure means including plungers for cushioningthe thrust of the roll when a mass passes therebeneath, and meansestablishing a loose connection between each plunger and the cap, saidlast means being adaptable to the cap during floating movements of theroll.

3. A ournal box for the roll of a crushing mill comprising a journalcap, a pair of fluid pressure means disposed radially of the roll andincluding plungers by which the fluid pressure is received, and meansconstituting links fitted between the plungers and the cap to transmitthe pressures to the cap, said last means being adaptable to varyingpositions of the plunger-s and cap as the roll is shifted about in aprescribed area by virtue of a mass of material passing therebeneath.

4. A journal box for the roll of a crushing mill comprising a ournalcap, a pair of fluid pressure means for an end of the roll beingdisposed in radial positions and including plungers which receive thepressure, link means fitted between the plungers and the captransmitting the pressures to the cap and reacting against variations ina mass of material passing beneath the roll to permit the i a desiredpositionbut permitting said float roll to float within a prescribedarea, and guide means for the cap keeping the cap in ing movements ofthe roll.

5. In a crushing mill, a roll having a trunnion, a journal'for thetrunnion having a floating cap bearing on the trunnion and comprisingone half of the journal, a pair of fluid pressure cylinders havingplungers arranged to impose pressures upon the cap upon radial linesintersecting the axial center of the trunnion, and a fixed linercomprising the other half of the journal and also bearing on thetrunnion, being so cut away as to confine the hearing within an arcuatearea bounded at the sides by planes erected upon said lines andextending in the axial direction of the trunnion.

6. In a crushing mill, a roll having a trunnion, a housing in which thetrunnion has bearing, a cap fixed upon the housing havingcylindersextending in radial directions from the trunnion, means closingone end of each cylinder, plungers in the cylinders, means to introducefluid under pressure into the cylinders to press on the plungers, afloating cap for the trunnion guided between the housing and the housingcap, and linkage means establishing a contact between the plungers andthe cap.

' WILLIAM COOPER.

